Tips For Healthier Restaurant Eating

15 Tips For Healthier Restaurant Eating!

By LeAnn Helle

We all eat out once in awhile, some of us more than others. Apply one or more of these tips to help you eat a healthier meal when away from home.

Always choose a grilled entrée over breaded or fried.

Choosing broth-based soups and sauces over cream based will save you hundreds of calories. A broth-based soup will also add to your hydration level and help fill you up before your meal. Most red sauces will be much better for you than Alfredo.

If you are not ordering a broth-based soup, have a salad before your meal.

Limit the bread course or ask the wait staff to not even bring it to the table.

Dipping bread in olive oil is statistically better than using a butter spread.

The fat and calorie count is too high for au gratin dishes.

Restaurant servings are easily twice the correct serving size for most Americans. Box up half your meal and save it for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner.

At fast food establishments, order a side salad instead of fries. And take it easy with the dressing.

Never super-size! Remember: restaurant servings are twice what you need already.

Healthy pizza? Ask for more sauce, less cheese, thin crust. Top with vegetables and avoid the fatty meats (pepperoni, sausage, beef, bacon). Chicken is ok, if it’s not breaded first.

Limit nutritionally empty calories from alcohol. Each glass of wine or beer is around 100-150 calories. Cocktails and martinis are much worse.

Make some tough choices: bread or salad (not both), alcohol or dessert. If you eat a full meal, then no dessert.

A fast food kids meal hamburger is the correct serving size of beef for most people. Do not up-size the fries! J

Drink water with all restaurant meals. Add lemon for flavor. Again, you are avoiding empty (non-nutritious) calories.

Breakfast: Eggs are a good protein source. Avoid the fried potatoes. Limit syrup (use fruit instead). Croissants are loaded with fat. Choose whole-grain whenever possible. Granola is extremely caloric for the serving size. Use low-fat dairy. Eat only small muffins or ½ of the big ones.

And there you have 15 tips for healthier restaurant eating! Enjoy!